Key album



Jan. 4, 1 955 A. DE HERTELENDY KEY ALBUM Filed Feb. 27, 1952 alllllll rl! stirb' lllllalll.. .r l 'IAD l, A.. Y "lill KEY ALBUM Andor de Hertelendy, New York, N. Y.

Application February V27, 1952,y Serial No. 273,660V

1 claim. (c1. 15o- 46) The present invention relates to key holders and the ljike, and particularly to what I choose to term a key al- The main object of my invention is to provide a special key holder for keeping several keys in an orderly manner in accessible condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for retaining a plurality of generally flat keys in a type of folder with individual places for the various keys to be held thereby. ,n

A further object is to have such a key holding device that may virtually be termed an album, inasmuch as it has several isolated key retaining means spaced apart on each page or side of the album.

A practical object is to have a key album of the character indicated that is provided upon each key retaining page or side with key holding slits, slots or strips, etc., in such conveniently spaced positions that each key has its own position independently of the others, and that notes identifying each key as belonging to a certain object or lock may be inscribed upon these pages.

It is also anl object of the invention to have such a key album that is effective to hold the keys in individual places when closed, but also allows the keys to be removed temporarily in individual fashion so as to be esecially convenient to use, when the album is open to display the keys.

Another practical object is to have such a key album that is simple to make and simple and convenient to use in order to encourage wide distribution on the market.

Other objects and advantages will appear in further detail as the specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention for a proper appreciation of the salient features thereof, the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a key album embodying the invention in practical form, the album being in closed condition;

Figure 2 is another perspective View of the same key album, when the same is in open condition;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of the key album as taken o1 line 3--3 in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a similar sectional view to that of Figure 3, for disclosing a modification of the album; and

Figure 5 is also a similar section showing another modification of the invention.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts.

It is a matter of common occurrence that when the luggage, car or house keys are about to be used, there is a certain amount of confusion and inconvenience encountered in attempting to single out the desired key from a group upon a key chain of common type, or from a conventional key holder. The primary reason for such trouble is that all of the keys are not only held in a jumble close together, but also retained in close association so that any one key is very difficult to manage properly for opening a lock. Yet, the principle of having all the keys simultaneously available is sound, but the manner in which this has been accomplished heretofore seems to be the point susceptible of improvement.

Upon considering this problem, it has occurred to me that a special device should be available for retaining keys in separate arrangement in such fashion that they are all simultaneously visible and accessible when the device is open, and also temporarily removable for use,

United States Patent O and thereafter replaceable and device closed for safely keeping the keys. As a result, I have succeeded in prolducing a convenient key album along the lines already indicated,as will now be described in detail in the following.

Hence, in the practice of my invention, and referring also again to the drawing, a key album, generally indicated at 6, primarily includes a sort of book or folder with at least two leaves or pages 7 and 8 made of leather, canvas, paper mounted Aon linen, rubber or plastic that is supple and somewhat exible. The two leaves may be hinged together by hinge members 9 and 10 forming part of the leaves and retained assembled by hinge pin 11. Of course, if I so choose, the leaves 7 and 8 may be made of rather stiff material of the character of fiber, sheet plastic or metal such as aluminum or alloy, the principle being substantially the same.

In any event, in a number of spaced apart positions on the rear or inner leaf 8 are fixed knobs, eyelets or rivets 12, 12, etc., with the stems or projecting portions extending forward upon this leaf, the stem in each case serving to hold a key 13, 13, etc. In addition, beneath each key stern 12 is secured a transversely arranged strip of flexible material such as linen, leather, rubber plastic, 14 being attached at the ends thereof to leaf 8 by rivets 15, 15 or cementing in place, or by any other means known in the art. These strips form retaining straps for the keys 13 that are impaled on the stems or knobs 12 in such fashion that any one key may be withdrawn from its retaining strap when the hole 16 in the key has become disengaged from the stem 12 normally retaining it in place. After such momentary use as opening a locker or using a trunk-key on a voyage, it may be restored to the key album again and the front leaf closed upon the entire group of keys held. In order to prevent the knobs or stems 12 from injuring the front leaf 7 when no keys are contained therein, said front leaf is provided with holes 17, 17, etc. all of which register with said stems or knobs 12 when the key album is in closed position as shown in Fig. l. The keys are thus normally retained in safe condition, while being instantly accessible upon instant call by merely openng`the album and selecting and removing the key desired.

As shown in Figure 4, the front and rear leaves 18 and 19 may be so flexible and supple that their junction 20 will sutiice as a folding hinge portion, the retaining strap 21 being formed in this case from rear leaf 19 by stamping or cutting through a slot 22 for each key a distance below each rivet 23.

Figure 5 shows a form of key album with four leaves 25, 26, 27 and 28 connected together at the top by riveting or cementing, with strips of spacing material 29, 30, and 31 disposed between. Each of the leaves 26, 27 and 28 has a group of key retaining straps 34, 34, 34 similar to strap 14 for the keys 13, 13, 13, while above each strap is disposed a rivet or knob 32 on rear leaf 28. This form of key retaining rivet is rather long and extends through leaf 27 which is correspondingly provided with a group of eyelets 33 registering with and receiving rivet stems 32 in normally closed condition of the album. The second leaf 26 in similar fashion has a corresponding group of somewhat larger eyelets 35 normally extending out through holes 36 in front leaf 25 and being large enough internally to receive the stems of eyelets 33 of leaf 27. Upon each of the inner leaves having the rivets or eyelets, keys 13 are retained as already described in connection with Figures l to 4, straps 34 serving to hold the keys flat against each leaf.

When the album is closed, the pages which lean against the key-bearing pages will keep the keys from slipping off their stems in case the album is bent in handling. In each case, the keys are all retained in fully accessible and convenient position independently of the other keys. This is true, whether two or more leaves compose the key album, and any key may thus be selected quickly and conveniently at any time, especially if care has been taken previously to mark by an appropriate note in the album, its identity as belonging to such and such lock.

Manifestly, variations may be resorted to, and parts latented Jan. 4 1955 and features may be modiiied or used without others Within'the scope of the 'appended' claim.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

A key album comprising a substantially rectangular sheetf'of ilexible material,1saidsheet being folded-transver'selyf4 intermediate fits ends whereby to provide al front leaf -and a rear leaf, said rear leaf having a plurality of laterally and vertically spaced -openings therein, a plurality of substantially cylindrical pins secured -within said openings, and extending forwardly of said rear leaf, and the -latter havingf transverse, substantially parallel slits therein below each-of said members whereby to form a` transverse strap, said pin being adapted to supporting a key thereon by entering the central opening thereof with said straps being adapted to resiliently vreceive the lower portion of the key, the forward ends of saidpin`abutting the innerV face'oiY said front leaf' when the album is in a closed position thereby preventing the keys from slipping off said pin.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

